Ambrogio Tremazzi.[227]

[Footnote 227:  The text is published, from Florentine Archives, in Gnoli’s Vittoria Accoramboni, pp. 404-414.]

In illustration of this narrative, and in evidence that it stands by no means solitary on the records of that century, I shall extract some passages from the report made by Ambrogio Tremazzi of Modigliana concerning the assassination of Troilo Orsini.  Troilo it will be remembered, was the lover of the Medicean Duchess of Bracciano.  After the discovery of their amours, and while the lady was being strangled by her husband, with the sanction of her brother Troilo escaped to France.  Ambrogio Tremazzi knowing that his murder would be acceptable to the Medici, undertook the adventure; moved, as he says, ’solely by the desire of bringing myself into favorable notice with the Grand Duke; for my mind revolted at the thought of money payments, and I had in view the acquisition of honor and praise rather, being willing to risk my life for the credit of my Prince, and not my life only, but also to incur deadly and perpetual feud with a powerful branch of the Orsini family.’  On his return from France, having successfully accomplished the mission, Ambrogio Tremazzi found that the friends who had previously encouraged his hopes, especially the Count Ridolfo Isolami, wished to compromise his reward by the settlement of a pension on himself and his associate.  Whether he really aimed at a more honorable recognition of his services, or whether he sought to obtain better pecuniary terms, does not appear.  But he represents himself as gravely insulted; ’seeing that my tenor of life from boyhood upwards has been always honorable, and thus it ever shall be.’  After this exordium in the form of a letter addressed to one Signor Antonio [Serguidi], he proceeds to render account of his proceedings.  It seems that Don Piero de’Medici gave him three hundred crowns for his traveling expenses; after which, leaving his son, a boy of twelve years, as hostage in the service of Piero, he set off and reached Paris on August 12, 1577.  There he took lodgings at the sign of the Red Horse, near the Cordeilliers, and began at once to make inquiries for Troilo.  He had brought with him from Italy a man called Hieronimo Savorano.  Their joint investigations elicited the fact that Troilo had been lately wounded in the service of the King of France, and was expected to arrive in Paris with the Court.  It was not until the eve of All Saints’ day that the Court returned.  Soon afterwards, Ambrogio was talking at the door of a house with some Italian comedians, when a young man, covered with a tawny-colored mantle, passed by upon a brown horse, bearing a servant behind him on the crupper.  This was Troilo Orsini; and Ambrogio marked him well.  Troilo, after some minutes’ conversation with the players, rode forward to the Louvre.  The bravo followed him and discovered from his servant where he lodged.  Accordingly, he engaged rooms in the Rue S. Honore, in order to be nearer to his victim.